That was after the VW bard had shortlisted American motorcycle and powered recreational vehicle company Polaris Industries, investment firm Bain Capital, private equity fund PAI and the Italian Benetton family through former Ducati owner Investindustrial.

Their bids valued Ducati at €1.3-1.5 billion which is more than 13 times the company’s annual earnings of €100 million.

Dieselgate

VW has considered selling Ducati since December 2015, just three months after theUnited States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a violation notice to VW for fudging the emissions figures of its turbo diesel engines.

The so-called “dieselgate” scandal is estimated to have cost VW up to $US30 billion in fines and fixing its engines, hence the need to sell some of its assets.

Ducati has been considered for sale alongside truck company MAN and even Lamborghini.

The sale was expected to be concluded this month.

Reuters reports that the sale may still go ahead next year.

Business as usual

Ducati Panigale V4

Despite all the disruptive talk about selling Ducati, it’s been business as usual at the Bologna company.

They have released several new and updated models and developed their first V4 engine.

The MotoGP-derived V4 Desmosedici Stradale will power their Panigale V4 superbike to be unveiled at the EICMA show in Milan in November.